Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 18

Forty days after Easter, Jesus ascended—not into absence, but into authority. He didn’t float away. He took His throne. And even now, He reigns—not only above us, but for us.

Question 46

What do you mean by saying, “He ascended to heaven”?
That Christ,
while His disciples watched,
was taken up from the earth into heaven
and remains there on our behalf
until He comes again to judge the living and the dead.¹

¹ Luke 24:50–53; Acts 1:9–11; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:23–25; 9:24; 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Question 47

But isn’t Christ with us until the end of the world, as He promised us?
Christ is true human and true God.
In His human nature Christ is not now on earth;
but in His divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit
He is never absent from us.²

² Matthew 28:18–20; John 14:16–19; Acts 1:9–11; 3:19–21

Question 48

If His humanity is not present wherever His divinity is,
then aren’t the two natures of Christ separated from each other?
Certainly not.
Since divinity
is not limited and is present everywhere,
it is evident that Christ’s divinity is surely beyond
the bounds of the humanity He has taken on,
but at the same time His divinity is in and remains
personally united to His humanity.³

³ John 1:14; 3:13; Colossians 2:9

Question 49

How does Christ’s ascension to heaven benefit us?
First, He is our advocate in heaven
in the presence of His Father.
Second, we have our own flesh in heaven—
a guarantee that Christ our head
will take us, His members, to Himself in heaven.
Third, He sends His Spirit to us on earth
as a further guarantee.
By the Spirit’s power
we make the goal of our lives
not earthly things,
but the things above where Christ is,
sitting at God’s right hand.⁴

⁴ John 14:2–3; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 2:4–6; Colossians 3:1–4; Hebrews 6:19–20

He Ascended—And Remains

When we picture the ascension, we often imagine distance. Jesus going “up,” away, removed. But the Catechism paints a richer picture.

Christ did ascend—visibly, bodily, triumphantly. And yes, in His human nature, He is no longer walking the earth. But He hasn’t left us behind. He reigns from heaven for us. He intercedes. He represents. He prepares a place. His work didn’t end when He rose—it advanced.

And though His humanity is in heaven, His presence is not absent. By His divinity, grace, and Spirit, Christ is still with us—closer than our breath, nearer than our fear.

He is not gone. He is enthroned.

Our Flesh Is There

One of the most striking lines in the Catechism is this: We have our own flesh in heaven.

That’s more than poetry. It’s doctrine that breathes hope. Jesus didn’t shed His humanity after the resurrection. He carried it with Him—glorified, perfected, but still real. Still ours.

Which means this: our future is not floating souls or spiritual abstraction. It’s resurrection. Renewal. A redeemed body in a restored creation. Because our Head is already there, our home is already secure.

The ascension tells us where the story is going. Not away from earth forever, but toward the day when heaven and earth meet—and we are made new.

What the Spirit Makes Possible

Christ’s ascension also means we are not alone. He sends His Spirit—not just to comfort, but to empower. The Spirit unites us to the risen Christ, directs our hearts to heaven, and helps us live now as citizens of what is to come.

That’s not escapism. It’s clarity. We don’t live with our heads in the clouds, but with our hearts fixed above—because that’s where Christ is. That’s where our lives are hidden. That’s where we’re headed.

The ascension isn’t the end of Christ’s presence. It’s the beginning of our shared purpose—anchored in heaven, lived out on earth.

A Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, You have ascended—not into distance, but into glory. You reign in heaven, and You remain with me here. Thank You that You did not leave us as orphans, but sent Your Spirit to dwell in our hearts. Thank You that my Advocate stands before the Father, pleading mercy, securing grace, preparing a place. Help me to remember that my life is hidden with You. Teach me to seek the things above, to long for the world to come, and to live today in the strength of Your Spirit. You are not absent. You are exalted. And because You are there, I know I am not forgotten here. Amen.

Daily Bible Readings

New Testament in a Year
May 4 – Luke 20:1–26
May 5 – Luke 20:27–47
May 6 – Luke 21:1–19
May 7 – Luke 21:20–38
May 8 – Luke 22:1–38
May 9 – Luke 22:39–62
May 10 – Luke 22:63–71

The Bible in a Year
May 4 – 1 Kings 14–15; Luke 20:1–26
May 5 – 1 Kings 16–18; Luke 20:27–47
May 6 – 1 Kings 19–20; Luke 21:1–19
May 7 – 1 Kings 21–22; Luke 21:20–38
May 8 – 2 Kings 1–3; Luke 22:1–38
May 9 – 2 Kings 4–5; Luke 22:39–62
May 10 – 2 Kings 6–8; Luke 22:63–71